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First Flight – Poem 6: Amanda!

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NCERT Class 10 English | First Flight – Poem 6: Amanda! – Complete Solutions
The Poem
Amanda!by Robin Klein
Don't bite your nails, Amanda!
Don't hunch your shoulders, Amanda!
Stop that slouching and sit up straight,
Amanda!

(There is a languid, emerald sea,
where the sole inhabitant is me —
a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)

Did you finish your homework, Amanda?
Did you tidy your room, Amanda?
I thought I told you to clean your shoes,
Amanda!

(I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)

Don't eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I'm speaking to you,
Amanda!

(I am Rapunzel; I have not a care;
my life is a dream, my hair is my hair.
I am never, ever, ever, ever going to be there.)
About the Poet
Robin Klein(born 1936)
Robin Klein is an Australian author and poet, known for her works for children and young adults. Her poetry often deals with themes of childhood, identity, and the pressures of growing up. "Amanda!" is one of her most famous poems, highlighting the struggles of a child constantly nagged by adults.
Summary of the Poem
SummaryKey Points
Summary: "Amanda!" is a poem about a young girl named Amanda who is constantly being scolded and instructed by an adult (likely her mother). The adult tells her not to bite her nails, not to hunch her shoulders, to sit up straight, to finish her homework, to tidy her room, to clean her shoes, not to eat chocolate, to remember her acne, and to pay attention. In response, Amanda escapes into her imagination. She imagines herself as a mermaid in a peaceful sea, as an orphan roaming freely in the streets, and as Rapunzel living a carefree life in a tower. The poem contrasts the restrictive adult world with the child's desire for freedom and peace.
Theme of the Poem
ThemeCentral Idea
Theme: The central theme of the poem is the conflict between adult expectations and a child's desire for freedom. The poem highlights how constant nagging and criticism can make a child feel suffocated and lead them to escape into imagination. It also critiques the pressure placed on children to conform to adult standards, showing that children need space, understanding, and freedom to be themselves.
Literary Devices
DeviceExamples from the Poem
1. Repetition: "Amanda!" is repeated at the end of many lines, emphasising the constant nagging.
2. Alliteration: "Stop that slouching and sit up straight" — repetition of 's' sound.
3. Imagery: "languid, emerald sea," "pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet" — vivid sensory images.
4. Metaphor: The sea represents peace and freedom; the tower represents isolation.
5. Contrast: The poem contrasts the real world (full of commands) with Amanda's imaginary world (full of freedom).
6. Enjambment: Many lines flow into the next without punctuation.
7. Rhyme Scheme: The stanzas have different rhyme schemes — the nagging stanzas are irregular, while the dream stanzas are more rhythmic.
Word Meanings (Vocabulary)
WordMeaning
Hunch: to raise or round the shoulders
Slouching: standing or sitting in a lazy, drooping manner
Languid: slow and relaxed
Emerald: bright green in colour
Blissfully: happily, with great joy
Orphan: a child whose parents are dead
Roaming: wandering without a fixed destination
Acne: skin condition with pimples (common in teenagers)
Rapunzel: a fairy tale character who lived in a tower
Hushed: quiet, silent
Thinking About the Poem (Page 107)
Q12 marks
What does the adult in the poem constantly tell Amanda to do? Why does she do this?
Answer: The adult tells Amanda not to bite her nails, not to hunch her shoulders, to sit up straight, to finish her homework, to tidy her room, to clean her shoes, not to eat chocolate, to remember her acne, and to pay attention. She does this because she wants Amanda to be well-behaved, disciplined, and healthy according to adult standards.
Q23 marks
How does Amanda escape from the nagging of the adult? What images does she imagine?
Answer: Amanda escapes into her imagination. She imagines three different scenarios: (1) She is a mermaid drifting blissfully in a lazy, green sea. (2) She is an orphan roaming the streets freely, feeling that "silence is golden" and "freedom is sweet." (3) She is Rapunzel living in a tower with no cares, dreaming her life away, and never having to face the nagging adult.
Q33 marks
What message does the poem "Amanda!" convey about parenting and childhood?
Answer: The poem conveys that constant nagging and criticism can be suffocating for children. It suggests that children need freedom, understanding, and space to grow. While parents want the best for their children, excessive control and correction can lead children to retreat into their imagination, feeling unheard and misunderstood. The poem encourages parents to be more patient and to understand a child's need for independence.
Extra Questions for Practice
Q13 marks
Why does Amanda imagine herself as a mermaid, an orphan, and Rapunzel? What do these imaginary scenarios represent?
Answer: These imaginary scenarios represent Amanda's desire for freedom and peace. As a mermaid, she wants to be alone in a peaceful sea. As an orphan, she wants freedom from rules and restrictions. As Rapunzel, she wants to escape from the pressures of the real world into a dreamlike existence. Each scenario represents Amanda's wish to be free from the constant nagging and control of adults.
Q23 marks
What is the significance of the repetition of the name "Amanda!" in the poem?
Answer: The repetition of "Amanda!" at the end of almost every instruction emphasises the constant, relentless nagging that Amanda experiences. The exclamation mark shows the sharp, commanding tone of the adult. The repetition creates a sense of frustration and suffocation, as Amanda is constantly being called out and corrected.
Q34 marks
What does the poem "Amanda!" teach us about the importance of listening to children's feelings?
Answer: The poem teaches that adults often focus on correcting children's behaviour without listening to their feelings or understanding their perspectives. Amanda's imaginary escapes show that she feels unheard and suffocated. The poem suggests that adults should be more empathetic, give children space to express themselves, and recognise that constant criticism can lead children to withdraw into themselves. Listening to children's feelings is as important as teaching them good habits.
NCERT Class 10 English | First Flight – Poem 6: Amanda! | Complete solutions and study material.

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